Short story: I was looking for the right words to describe what seems to be happening to my cat and found “necrotizing fasciitis”. This is NOT something the emergency vet even mentioned. Maybe because my cat doesn’t seem to be in any pain?
Anyone have experience with this?
My old girl seems like a reasonable candidate for this. I’m calling the vet back to see if they can read the emergency vet report and if I should take her immediately.
(original lengthy post follows …)
In competition for the worst cat owner ever, I didn’t notice swelling of my old cat’s lip until food got caught. It’s the side of her face I rarely see and she likes being combed and petted but not held or examined. So, I go with the path of least resistance.
She doesn’t live with me anymore, so I only see her in the evenings. We were living at my BF’s when her long-time companion died in January, she became very interactive with my BF’s group of cats. She doesn’t like them to touch her, but she likes to be around. The kitten has pushed through her wall and sits on her tail. So, when I moved into my new house, I thought she would be happier with other cats than all alone most of the day.
We took her to the vet last Monday. Her regular doc wasn’t in, so someone else saw her. The vet examined her mouth, even turning the lip inside out, and said it was probably an absess or a scratch that was a bit infected. We opted for the antibiotic shot (pills are a disaster with this girl) and took her home. She seemed better than she’d been in a couple of months … very interactive, eating enthusiastically, sitting quietly for her fluids.
Then Saturday during my daily inspection, I saw that … how to describe this? The bottom part of her lip was hanging loose from her cheek. All the flesh below the whisker line, on the left side from the outer side of her nose to 1/2 from the end of the mouth, exposing gums.
Rushed to the emergency vet to get it stitched to learn that it was dead and could be removed. I opted not to do a bunch of tests and bloodwork at the time. The vet just pulled the piece off and we left. The border is jagged and hard.
I’ve made an appointment for her regular vet to see her first thing tomorrow, but I don’t know what to ask, really. My position is that I will do everything to keep her comfortable until she stops eating and then let her go.
I know she has nearly no kidney function and she’s was diagnosed with pancreatitis last fall. She’s been getting daily subq fluids and cerenia as needed since then.
In January she got this weird eye bleed, but the animal opthamologist examined her and said there was nothing to be done: there was probably tumor in her head. Miraculously, her eye hasn’t bled since that appointment.
She drinks regularly from ceramic bowls (hates the water fountain, but will beg for water from the sink). She eats about 1/8 cup of dry food, 1 T of canned (Fancy Feast or Almo), and 10 or so My Little Lion treats every day.
Starting yesterday she has decided to sleep in the kitten’s litter box (filled with kitten attract). Is it horrible to let her? Kitten seemed okay using one of the big cat boxes when his was occupied yesterday.
Kidding, kidding.
